Ohio prison officials rejected Ronald Phillips' request in short order. When the death-row inmate asked Monday to be allowed to donate organs to his mother and sister, the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction said it was too late. Phillips' execution was only three days away, and the logistical and security issues were too difficult to arrange at the 11th hour.

But Gov. John Kasich had no problem with overruling that decision. Kasich made good use of his prerogative, postponing the execution until July 2 so that doctors can determine whether Phillips can donate a kidney and possibly make other "non-vital" donations, such as tissue, before he is executed.

Those who need organ transplants and their families surely will appreciate Kasich's reasoning: "If another life can be saved by his willingness to donate his organs and tissues, then we should allow for that to happen."

Phillips wants to help his mother, who is on dialysis, but she is only one of some 3,500 Ohioans who are on organ transplant lists, a majority of whom need a kidney.

Phillips was convicted of raping and killing a 3-year-old girl in 1993. Nothing can right the wrong that deprived a child of her life, but Phillips will still pay the ultimate price for this unspeakable crime next July.

Kasich is right that this is "uncharted territory" in Ohio, and it is an opportunity for the state to address the issue in a way that will avert last-minute postponements of executions in the future. In the meantime, Phillips should be allowed to follow through with what would automatically be assumed in other circumstances to be a selfless act.